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Been watching Mob City starring Jon Bethnal (Shane from TWD) and produced by Frank Darabont. Set in post war LA principally about slightly shady cop with a lot of real world figures thrown into the mix. It's very noir in tone and styling and deliberately so I guess in order to differentiate itself from Boardwalk empire.

Starts of predictably enough for the first couple of episodes, but actually gets better as it proceeds. Helped in large part by the fact that it's based on a novel as I understand it. Generally solid performances, and that it's covering historical events in terms of certain characters makes it interesting.

Hoo boy, I finally watched Firefly and I can understand where all the hype comes from. Stories are nothing special but the dialogues are brilliant and the characters are insanely lovable. A great pity they cancelled it, but I agree with some people that more seasons would probably be a slippery slope.

- It tied up all the loose ends that were left dangling in Smith's run.
- The concept/idea was fun!
- Peter Capaldi.

Things I disliked about this episode of Doctor Who:

- It tied up all the loose ends that were left dangling in Smith's run in the most hackneyed, pointlessly fast method conceivable.
- The concept/idea was delivered in a really shallow way that felt like they couldn't work out how seriously they were supposed to deliver it.
- Peter Capaldi wasn't on-screen for long enough.
-The audio mixing was once again terrible. I want to hear what the characters you've written for actually are saying!
- [Spoiler]Regenerations basically because the plot said so![/spoiler]

All-in-all, not a super hot episode.

EDIT: On further reflection, I perhaps want to emphasise that I did enjoy it throughout, but I stand by my comment that it wasn't 'super hot'.

Yeah I found it intriguing and thats the best word for it, I didn't dislike it cause there were many moments that were powerful and I was a bit sad to see him go which they did pretty well, I also liked the idea of it. Its just that idea was executed weirdly...it was a bit of a mess story wise I have to say with no real one element really standing out and just going along with it.

Will miss Matt Smith a lot I think he has slowly become my favourite Doctor in this show.

I thought the Dr Who special was an incomprehensible mess, it certainly wasn't made for the casual who-viewer (or lapsed like me). I've always had a problem with Dr Who's science as magic thing, because it has a tendency to aim for emotion and character instead of actual story-telling, but for this newly gifted regeneration they didn't even give a rubbish explanation, it just kind of happened.

Also as much as I like Capaldi elsewhere I think he could be a disaster simply because of his age and the relatively young demographic Who aims for. Both my younger siblings (14 and 11) who have always watched Who, said they're not interested in watching it now in the slightest (though neither of them much liked Matt Smith either). I also feel a bit like Moffat is a little bit out of ideas as showrunner, the best recent episodes have been one-shots by guest writers and the overarching archs are overblown and almost universally unsatisfying. His Sherlock is far superior in every respect.

Yeah, whilst I'm not calling for Moffat to go, at least not right now, I do think it's time that he maybe reined it in a little. My favourite story out of the year, excluding the anniversary special, was Hide; if you'd have told me that a ghost hunting story would be my favourite of the year, I'd have been incredibly surprised. It had no sense of over-arching mystery, it was just a one-and-done story and I really feel like Capaldi's run really needs to just be about some classic adventures/stories. It'd be really fun to not have to worry about the bigger plots, as fun as they can be and instead just see what's going on for a little while.

As for the demographic issue...I dunno. Over the last few years, Doctor Who has really picked up with the 'Tumblr Crowd' and whilst it might not do the show good to lose viewers, I can't help but feel a little happy that if people are only on board because The Doctor is young or generally a pretty boy, that I don't really care if they don't want in. Part of the show's appeal is that it's there for everyone and I see no reason that Capaldi being older/the oldest should really push people away so long as he's actually interesting. If anything, I think he might be a bit of a dark horse. Considering the ridiculous attention given to his eyes alone, I think there's hope yet.

Last edited by The JG Man; 26-12-2013 at 08:09 PM.
Reason: Because sometimes saying something is a spoiler is more of a spoiler than what you're trying to keep hidden

Yeah, whilst I'm not calling for Moffat to go, at least not right now, I do think it's time that he maybe reined it in a little. My favourite story out of the year, excluding the anniversary special, was Hide; if you'd have told me that a ghost hunting story would be my favourite of the year, I'd have been incredibly surprised. It had no sense of over-arching mystery, it was just a one-and-done story and I really feel like Capaldi's run really needs to just be about some classic adventures/stories. It'd be really fun to not have to worry about the bigger plots, as fun as they can be and instead just see what's going on for a little while.

As for the demographic issue...I dunno. Over the last few years, Doctor Who has really picked up with the 'Tumblr Crowd' and whilst it might not do the show good to lose viewers, I can't help but feel a little happy that if people are only on board because The Doctor is young or generally a pretty boy, that I don't really care if they don't want in. Part of the show's appeal is that it's there for everyone and I see no reason that Capaldi being older/the oldest should really push people away so long as he's actually interesting. If anything, I think he might be a bit of a dark horse. Considering the ridiculous attention given to his eyes alone, I think there's hope yet.

Fair points all, Capaldi could end up being a great Dr if the writing is up to scratch and if that means the show takes a darker turn making use of his not inconsiderable assets as a performer, I'd be happy to watch that. On the other hand I'm not entirely sure the BBC will have the balls to go down that road and we'll just end up with an older man playing the same kind of wacky as Tennant and Smith.

No I think he would have to be put in a darker role but one of the things that I like about the current Doctor is that he can be silly as well land I don't think that is a bad thing. Iam actually of the opinion that Stefen Moffat should be replaced and just be there for a few one in done storylines, that was his strength and his run has basically proved to me this. Also not every show needs big story arcs and Doctor Who is one of them.

Why would doctor who need to be darker? It's fun sci-fi. The doctor is foppish and a bit ridiculous. Darker moments, sure - Dalek is one of the best episodes for good reason, but let's not forget that season was mostly about mannequins taking over the world, blowing up robot ann robinson, and flatulent aliens taking over downing street. It really doesn't need to be dark. That's what literally every other piece of sci-fi that exists* is for. Casting Peter Capaldi is probably because people are used to seeing him as malcolm tucker, and so the difference will itself be fun.

Also, it seems to be that Moffat is taking the same trajectory as Russell T Davies. A few good seasons to start off with, and then increasingly veering into writing bad dr who fanfic. Time for a change, in my opinion.

Whilst Doctor Who doesn't need to be darker, one of its narrative strengths is having the capability to really do...whatever the hell it is it wants to do. Now obviously since the revival it's been mostly stand-alone episodes that have reflected a particular genre, but even amongst the new stuff you can work out general tones; Moffat is heavily vested towards harder sci-fi (in terms of concepts, not at all in execution), but also some fairy-tale stuff in a way. RTD was sort of about the romance of the adventure. Past series' have been heavily focused on action or even more gothic takes. Of course, on those occasions there's been some fantastic writing to back up the great acting.

I think with Capaldi they have a real chance to do darker stuff because he's such a good actor and whilst they tried it with Eccleston, the fact the show is now properly cemented means it can dare to go that little bit further. I don't think they necessarily will and it would be cool to have the juxtaposition of an edgier Doctor with a lighter tone, but I suppose that's part of the fun in waiting to see what will happen next and as you point out, the difference in Tucker Capaldi and Doctor Capaldi should be interesting itself.

I'd also agree that as the runs go on, the leads seem to, errm, lose traction.

I understand why though I think they or the producers have it in their heads that a lot of the episodes have to be epic blockbuster sci fi to keep the audience. What they dont understand is that its sometimes the smaller ones that people remember.

Sherlock was good last night it was brilliantly funny and very gripping as usual I was on the edge of my seat when Watson was trapped in the bonfire. Have to say a bit of a mess plot wise didnt really focus on one thing which usually sherlock is very good at. Its quite brave that they didnt really show you how Sherlock got out at the end of last episode im sure many people were dissapointed about that(though the second telling has to be the funniest thing ive ever seen). Good episode cant wait for more.

On the Doctor Who topic, it felt basically like Moffat wrapped a whole season up into a single special. This could be argued that this was a knock-on effect of Matt Smith's unexpected departure, but.... so many Moffat specials feel like that.

I thought it was an middle-of-the-road special, not good but far from the worst of either RTD or Moffat. I generally hate the specials too, so maybe I'm being a bit kind on it. Generally it felt like business as usual.

But still, at least he got the anniversary special right!

Genuinely excited to see what kind of Doctor Peter Capaldi will be once the post-regeneration wackiness wears off.

Sherlock was good last night it was brilliantly funny and very gripping as usual I was on the edge of my seat when Watson was trapped in the bonfire. Have to say a bit of a mess plot wise didnt really focus on one thing which usually sherlock is very good at. Its quite brave that they didnt really show you how Sherlock got out at the end of last episode im sure many people were dissapointed about that(though the second telling has to be the funniest thing ive ever seen). Good episode cant wait for more.

My thoughts as well. I definitely enjoyed the hell out of the episode and I love how Sherlock is evolving into something "human adjacent", especially in contrast to the birthday video ("I should smile, right? People usually smile with these" followed by an incredibly creepy smile) with Sherlock actually showing an interest in his friends and trying to convince Mycroft of the benefits of human interaction

But it was definitely one of the weakest episodes of the series in terms of the plot as there was no real detective work and too much of it was dependent on things that the viewer doesn't really know about.

Also, the two (definitely) fake survival theories were indeed hilarious. The first for "Sherlock as an Action Hero" and the second for just being completely hilarious. That being said, I am not convinced the third was the true story either, but we'll see if it touches on that again or just leaves it up to the viewer to decide if they believe Holmes or not.

I would say my only actual complaint with the episode was Molly. Don't get me wrong, I loved her and Sherlock's interactions and really enjoyed her playing Watson. My issue was that the writers took a cheap shot at her with her fiance who looks exactly like Cumberbatch when there was a chance to show that she really has moved on from her infatuation.

Last edited by gundato; 02-01-2014 at 03:18 PM.

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I enjoyed Sherlock, for what it's worth. I also think it's a fantastic use of post-modern techniques whilst also still being canonical to its own existence.

Originally Posted by Xercies

Its quite brave that they didnt really show you how Sherlock got out at the end of last episode

I'm 90% positive that they did. The final one given and the reaction it caused was just a mimicking of the thrill of the chase; at the end of the day, the mystery to solve will always, always be more interesting than what the truth actually is. If they turn around though and say what it definitively was I would also not be surprised, but I think we've heard the solution.

Originally Posted by gundato

I would say my only actual complaint with the episode was Molly. Don't get me wrong, I loved her and Sherlock's interactions and really enjoyed her playing Watson. My issue was that the writers took a cheap shot at her with her fiance who looks exactly like Cumberbatch when there was a chance to show that she really has moved on from her infatuation.

Except part of the theme of the episode was that people hadn't moved on, so it was all in-keeping and in her case especially lamp-shaded when she quickly reacts to "Dinner?" with his question. It's no more a cheap shot than Watson listening to Sherlock regarding his moustache despite being furious with him or Mrs. Hudson not dusting his room/letting it.